Areas in Casey will receive improved mobile phone coverage if the Coalition is re-elected as part of an additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Programme, Tony Smith, Member for Casey announced today.

New mobile base stations in Reefton, Chum Creek, Kalorama and Mt Evelyn will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents.

“The Coalition Government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia. That is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million”, said Mr Smith.

“We have selected these areas of the Yarra Ranges because they have been overlooked by mobile network operators due to commercial factors. A re-elected Coalition government will invite mobile network operators to bid for this new funding to provide coverage in the identified locations.

“The Coalition is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand.

“The active cooperation of the industry in the Mobile Black Spots Programme to date has been strong with 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3,000 black spots already rolled out under Round 1 of the Coalition Government's programme. This includes two new base stations to serve Steels Creek and East Warburton.”

Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash said that this is the most significant increase in mobile network coverage to regional and remote Australia delivered by a single public funding programme in the history of mobile communications in Australia.

“Following the success of the Coalition’s initial $100 million investment, another $60 million funding round is already under way, with successful locations to be announced by the end of 2016. This third round of $60 million will further improve mobile coverage in Casey,” Minister Nash said.

“Despite being in Government for six years, Labor did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia.”

The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional communities across Casey have access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.